This story is well known in the UK. Apparently less so in the US.
It is common to hear stories of village pubs. Where the white GIs asked them to not allow black GIs. And the locals instead welcomed the black GIs.
My grandmother told me of one in her village. And how a friend married one of the black GIs.
Racism deffinatly existed at the time. More so in many cities. But when brits are told to lower someone’s status by visitors. They tended to side with the downtrodden.
Even that Atlantic ocean couldn’t stop Jim Crow. Fascinating story, hope it can still be taught in history classes in the coming years.
Is the Tuskegee Airmen story well known in the US?
It’s well known but usually taught in the later years of high school (15-17 year olds). I don’t think they’re teaching things like the Tulsa massacre, the Wilmington massacre, Rosewood or the MOVE bombing in schools. Maybe in AP classes which are advanced placement for college credit.
Everything we learn about the Civil Rights movement is shown in black and white and taught as if it solved the problem. We definitely aren’t taught that some of the legal reforms forth in response the the nationwide riots after MLK’s assassination.
We didn’t learn about much US history in UK schools. Pretty much just the War of Independence, obvs, and slavery. I knew nothing about the War of 1812 until years later. The problem with UK history is there is so much of it.
at the level of “people have heard of them”, probably reasonably well. beyond that though, kind of dubious.
Thank you.
